Official Newsrelease: Recipients of Japan-United States Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature Announced

New York, New York, October 1st, 2015 -- The jury for the Japan-United States Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature met on September 25th, 2015, in New York City and decided on the winners of this year’s competition.

The Prizes for the calendar year 2015-2016 will be awarded to the following translators, listed in alphabetical order by last name:

Steven D. Carter for THE COLUMBIA ANTHOLOGY OF JAPANESE ESSAYS

(Columbia University Press, 2014)

Terry Gallagher for his translation of Toh Enjoe's SELF-REFERENCE ENGINE

(VIZ Media, 2013)

Stephen D. Miller and Patrick Donnelly for their waka translation in THE WIND

FROM VULTURE PEAK (Cornell East Asia Series, 2013)

An awards ceremony will be held at Columbia University in New York City on Friday December 11th, 2015.

The Japan-United States Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature was established in 1979, and the award has been administered by the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University since the Center was founded in 1986. The Prize is awarded annually to outstanding works of translation into English from the Japanese language.

About the Japan United States Friendship Commission:

The Japan United States Friendship Commission (JUSFC) was established as an independent agency by the US Congress in 1975 (P.L. 94-118). The Commission administers a US government trust fund that originated in connection with the return to the Japanese government of certain US facilities in Okinawa and for postwar American assistance to Japan. Income from the fund is available for the promotion of scholarly, cultural and public affairs activities between the two countries.

About the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture:

Founded in 1986 at Columbia University, the Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture is named in honor of Professor Donald Keene, internationally renowned scholar, Columbia University teacher, and interpreter of Japanese literature and culture to the West. The Center is dedicated to advancing the understanding of Japan and its culture in the United States through university instruction, research, and public education. In addition, the Center seeks to encourage study of the interrelationships among the cultures of Japan, other Asian countries, Europe, and the United States. The DKC is the central institution supporting the study of Japanese culture, literature, art, and history at Columbia University, and frequently co-sponsors events with the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, the Center for Korean Research, and other Columbia centers and institutes.

Friday 11 December, 5:30 PM, C.V. Starr East Asia Library Reading Room

RSVP: To attend the translation prize awards ceremony, email your full name by December 1st.

Contact:

Yoshiko Niiya, Program Coordinator

Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture

212-854-5036